Railroad-flagman&#39;s carriage



F. A. W. DAVIS.

RAILROAD FLAGMANS CARRIAGE,

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1916.

1 ,3 95,559. Patented Nov. 1, 1921. @i @1 UNITED STATES p FREDERICK A. W. DAVIS, OF PEIZHAM, NEW YORK.

RAILROAD-FLAGMAN S CARRIAGE.

- Application filed May 23, 1916.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921. Serial No. 99,271.

(GRANTED UND ER THE PROVISIONSOF THE ACT OF MARCH3, 1921,41 STAT. I, 1313.)

To all hom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. W. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, and resident ofPelham, inthe county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Flagmens Carriages, of which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to carriages designed to be used upon railroad rails .and is especiallyadapted'for the rapid transportation of railroad fiagmen and other operatives who are required to transverse the line of railroad.

Under the usual conditions of railroad operation, fiagmenare required to go a considerable distance beyond the rear of trains for signaling purposesand considerable loss of time and delays ensue under conditions of making the-trip on foot; My invention is designed to provide a simple carriage device which can beoperated by-the-individual flagman or railroad operative under apropelling impulse which will attain a very high speed upon one'of the rails of the track and enable the rapid carriage of the operator to' and from the desired point. The device is also designed to enable the rapid carriage of any individual operativealong a track rail under any conditions of desired employment oruse. V I

It is the object of my invention to provide a simple and inexpensive carriage device of the character above indicated, which can be effectively and conveniently used by the I operator for rapid transportation on atrack rail, which will bereadily portable, which will be compact andoccupy but little space when out of use, and which will possess maximum effectiveness; and general efficiency.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of the device in operative position upon a railroad rail.

- Fig. 2 is a front elevation of'the-structu're as shown in Fig. 1. V r

Fig. 3 is atop-or plan view of the structure as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical-cross-section, through one of the traction rollers, on the line :cw, Fig. 3. v p

Fig.5 is a sectional view,-corresponding to Fig. 4, illustrating a modified construction.

Fig. :6 .is :a sectional view, corresponding of the device and across and be guided in to Fig. 4, illustrating a further modified view showing the device compact folded position :foot of the operator rests and sustains his weight during travel and which constitutes the body of the device, rollers extending across said foot platform at the front and rear thereof and adapted to'support the same over a railroad rail and travel in a guide movement thereon, and an upright mast or framework extending at the front affording a handhold for the operator. Supplementary to the main elements just set forth, the device comprises means for bracing the mast in connection with the foot platform, and preferably braking means and a knock-down or foldable construction for the mast and brace.

Referring to the drawings, 1' designates the foot platform, which is an elongated and narrow member of suitable construction and of sufiicient longitudinal and lateral area to form a convenient rest and support for one foot of the operator. At the front and rear ends of the foot platform, .are mounted transverserollers, 2-2, adapted to extend travel upon a rail road rail, shown at 3, and support-the foot ,platform-a -suitable distance above the tread of the rail. The rollers are preferably mounted between extensions, as at 44, at the ends of'the foot platform, and have their bearing upon a transverse shaft or crosspin, 5, extending between and fixed to said extensions. The rollers are preferably ballbearing, and any suitable ball-bearing construction may be employed for this purpose. I .have herein illustrated a construction in which a roller, constituted bya metal cylinder, is longitudinally bored, ,as at 6, to accommodate the cross-pin 5 and is bored at its ends to provide a recess, as at 7, accommodating the cups, v8, which carry the balls, 9, bearing upon a sleeve, 10, carried upon the cross-pin -5.

The tread of the rollers preferably substantia ly QIIfQ PiS f t P551196 (3f the I rail-head, as in the construction illustrated in Fig. 4, the periphery or cylindrical surface of the roller being concave in crosssection, as at 11, and conforming substantially t the convex cross-section of the tread portion, 12, of the rail-head. The concave circumference of the roller produces circumferential flanges, 14-14, at each side, the inner surfaces of which, as at 15, substantially correspond to the convex curvature at the sides of the tread portion of the rail, as at 16, but an allowance. (say, approximately.

' are guided and braced laterally by the 45. "for sustaining the foot platform, in which flanges 14 at each side. I V

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 5, the concave circumference of the roller (in the construction as shown in Fig. 4) is cut away or recessed at its central portion, as at 18, the area of said circumferential recess being adapted to leave short tangents, as at 19'19, from the side flanges 14 and parallel to the axis of the roller to provide short bearing surfaces upon the top or tread of the rail. This construc tion reduces the frictional bearing surface of the roller upon the top or tread of the rail, there being no hearing at the central main portion of the circumference of the roller, and it is effectively operative through the side flanges 14 in the same manneras theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 4 and furthermore obviates an uneven bearing on the worn'top surface ortread of a rail.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated a further modified construction of the roller means a main roller 2, mounted in substantially the same manner as the rollers illustrated in Figs. 4 and. 5, has a reduced longitudinal extent or length and bears only'upon the top surface of the tread of the'rail, supplementary side rollers, as at 20-20, beingprovided-in lieu of the side flanges 14 of the roller shown in Fig. 4j and adapted to bear against the sides of the head of the rail and effectively serve the same guide and bracing purposes as said flanges. In this construc- 111011,

the supplementary side rollers have their axis approximately parallel to the side of the rail-head, and; they are constituted by metal cylindersbearing-upon shafts, 21, carried by brackets, 22, secured to I and depending from the shaft or cross-pin 5 of the main roller 2. The circumference of the supplementary rollers 20 is preferably such that they flanges and the side surface bear with relation. to 'the main area of the sides of the rail-head, and they thus afford enhanced stability in the lateral bracing and guiding of the carriage device upon the rail. The relative positioning of the supplementary side rollers is preferably such that a space, 17, is provided between the circumference of the roller and the side of the rail-head to permit of the necessar play of the rollers intravel uponthe rail in the same manner as that heretofore described with reference to the space 17 provided at the side flanges 14 of the roller con struction shown in Fig. 4.

The mast, 23, aifording ahand-hold and support to the operator, projects in upright.

position from the foot platform 1 and is constituted by a suitable framework having uprights and cross-bars. In the preferred construction, having a knock-down or folding character, the mast or front support comprlscs side uprights, 24-424, pivotally connected, as at 25, at their lower ends, to

thesides of the foot-platform'member 1 and braced at suitable intervals by cross-bars, 26, the top cross-bar being extended transversely to constitute aconvenient hand-hold, as at 27, for the operator. To further fenhance compact form as illustrated in Fig. 7 the the foldablecharacterof themast 23, to the point, asat 28, into two sections joined to- Y gether by a socket and hinge connection, the preferred construct on ashereln illustrated comprising a socket-piece, 29, receiving and secured to the lower end of the upper section, 30,01? the mast upright and extending downwardlyto embrace, the upper end of the lower section, 31, of the upright at both sides and atthe rear) Said socket-piece has a hinge joint, as at 32, at its front, carrying a hinge-plate, 3 3," which is secured to. the

front of the lower section of the upright,

which construction enables the upper section of the upright to be folded forwardly in the (1116QJ10I1 of the arrow in Fig. 1, carrying the socket-piece 29, and the lower section the upright to be folded rearwardly in the direction ndicated by the arrow, from 'within the socket, and brbught to the compact "folded position-shown in Fig. 7. The

sockets-pieces 29 of the respective mast up-' rights 24 are preferably connected and braced by a transverse cross-bar, as at 34. The brace. 35, extends diagonally between the uprightin-ast and the foot platform, and

to enable the compact folding conditions as before mentioned this brace is divided by a hinge-joint,'as at'36,-about'centrallyof its ends, into an upper and lower section, the upper section, 37 ,"of the brace-bar 35being pivotally connected, as at 38, to one of the mast' uprights v24 at a point immediately beneaththe socket-piece129, and the lower section, 39, of the brace-bar being pivotally connected, as at 4,0, to theside of .the footplatform'member l. The brace-bar 35 operates, in relation to the preferred foldable construction as herein set forth, to lock the upper section 30 of the mast uprightagainst folding action when the brace-bar is in operative position and the carriage device is in use, and for this .purpose the upper end of thebrace-section 37 is'provided with an extension, as at 41, bearing inthe operation of the pivotal connection 38 against the lower end of the socket-piece 29 at the rear thereof. ,A supplementary lock-catch, 42,

corresponding in construction to the upper end of the brace-section 37, .is preferably provided tolock the upper section .30 of the mast upright at the other side opposite from the brace 35, and this catch is pivotally mounted, as at 43, to said opposite mast .uprightand has anextensiomlas at 44, bearing against the lower-end of theopposite-socketpiece 29 at the rear thereof. Both the looking end of the brace-section 37 and the lockcatch 42 are provided with a forwardly-projectingextensiomias .at 45 and 46, respectively, affording :a hand-hold to operate the locking means, and these latter extensions are connected by a cross-bar, 47, serving to brace the locking means which are provided at opposite'sides of the mast upright. This cross-bar also serves as-a means whereby the locking means may be simultaneously operated in unisonto bring 'the' lock extensions 41 and 44 either into locking position or into released position to enable the folding of the upper section of the mast upright. The

foldable action of'the brace 35, and the simultaneous release of the locking means, may also be simply and conveniently effected by pressing downwardly with the foot upon the brace, when the latter is in the operative position illustrated in Fig. 1, which will cause the brace to 'fold upon its hinge-joint and it will thereafter fold to the final position as indicated in Fig. 7. Supplementary means are preferably provided to lock or maintain the sectional brace-bar 35 in its operative position, andI have herein illus trated for this purpose a lock-bar, 48, piv? oted at its upper end, as at 49, to the lower section 39 of the brace at a point intermediate the pivoted end 40 thereof and the hinge-joint 36, the free lower end of the lock-bar being adapted to normally bear in a socket or keeper, 50, provided upon the footplatform' member 1 and thus operate to lock the brace against foldable action. When it is desired tofold the brace, it is "simply necessary to grasp the pivoted lockbar 48 to release it from the socket or keeper 50, and said look-bar will also then fold to the position indicated inFigJ7,

'As the carriage device will attain an exceedingly high speed in its travel and guid ance *upon "the rack rai a brake means is and against the tension flexible cable or wire,

provided for the control of the speed and stoppage of the carriage. The brake means may be of any suitable or adapted construction, and I have herein illustrated a preferred construction comprising a brake-shoe, 51, pivotally mounted, as at 52, at its rear end, beyond the rear roller and in connection with the rear extension 4 of the foot platform. This brake-shoe projects forwardly and curves .over the circumference of the rear roller 2 and is provided at its under side with a friction block or surface, 53, of suitable area, adapted to bear upon the circumferential surface of the roller. The brake-shoe is normally maintained against contact'with the roller by means of a spring, 54, preferably consisting of a curved plate carried by the brake-shoe at a point in front of its fulcrum or pivot 52 and in rear of its bearing surface 53, and bearing at its lower end against a seat, 55, provided upon the extension of the foot platform. To operate the shoe in its brake action upon the roller of the spring 54, a 56, is connected to the free front end of the shoe and extends therefrom downwardly and forwardly in keepers or guides, as at 57, upon the foot platform, and upwardly in keepersor guides, as at 58,

upon the mast upright, to connection with a hand lever, 59, mounted upon the upright adjacent one of the hand-holes 27 of the mast and adapted to be conveniently operated to draw upon the cable 56 and thus actuate the brake. In the foldable operation of the carriage device, the flexible cable folds with the mast, as indicated in Fig. 7.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. hen the carriage is in the operative status as illustrated in Fig. 1, it is placed upon the track rail with the rollers in guide position thereon and the operator places one foot upon the foot platform and maintains his position by grasping the mast upright, and the carriage is then propelled upon the rail by the other foot of the operator in step contact with the ground or road-bed. A high speed, carrying the operator upon the sup porting foot on the foot platform. can thus be attained upon the railroad rail with merely intermittent steps for propulsion, as the resistance to the travel of the carriage upon the track rail is practically aminimum. The carriage, when out of use, ma be readily folded, as hereinbefore described and indicated, to the compact position shown in Fig. 7, in which it will occupy but little space, and it may therefore be conveniently kept upon the rear platform of railroad riage is therefore convenient and adapted for a wide range of effective use, not only or workmen generally as an effective means of rapid and simple transportation of an individual operator from place to place on a track rail. The inexpensive character of the device, and its convenient operation and adaptability to high speed and effective service, enables its preferred employment or use as a substitute for hand cars or other cumbersome apparatus which are now employed upon rallroad tracks for emergency transportation.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the detail construction and arran ement of parts as herein shown and described, as it is manifest that variations and modifications therein may be resorted to, in the adaptation of my invention to varying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope ofimy invention and improvements. 1 therefore reserve the right to all such variations and. modifications as properly fall within the scope'of my invention, and the terms of the following claims: 7 c

Having thus described my invention, I

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A foot carriage adapted to operate at high speed in balanced action upon a single railroad rail, comprising a platform member of-restricted lateral area to afford a support only for the foot of the operator, a single roller member extending transversely of said foot platform and in the median line thereof and mounted one at each of theterminal front and rear ends of said platform, said respective roller members conforming to and affording a braced bearing upon the tread and also both sides of the head of the -single rail, whereby they are operative in a balanced guide movement thereon, and a hand-hold member projective upwardly from said foot platform at the front thereof whereby the balanced action of the foot platform can be sustained by the operator under the inertia ofthe guided travel of the roller members upon the single rail, substantially as set forth.

2. A carriage operative upon a railroad rail, comprising a foot platform constituting a rest and support for the foot of the operator, rollers ext-ending transversely of said foot platform at the front and rear and in the median line thereof and sustaining said foot platform in balanced action on a single railroad -rail in travel in; a guide movement thereon, a foldable upright mast or framework extending from said foot platform transversely at the front thereof and affording a hand-hold for the operator, and a brace extending rearwardly at one side of said foot platform and operative to sustainthe mast in operative position and comprising means operating as a lock against the foldable action thereof.

3. A carriage operative upon arailroad rail, comprising a foot platform constituting a rest and support for the foot of'the operator, rollers extending transversely of said foot platform at the front and rear and in the median line thereof and sustaining said foot platform in balanced action on a-single railroad rail in travel'in a guide movement thereon, a foldable upright mast or frame work'extending from said foot platform transversely at the front thereof and affording a hand-hold for the operator, a foldable able action.

4. A carriage operative upon a railroad rail, comprising a foot platform constituting a rest and support for thefoot of'the operator, rollerssustaining said foot platform over a railroad rail and operative in a guide movement thereon, a foldable upright mast or framework extending from said foot platform and-affording a handhold. for the operator, a foldable brace operative to sustain the mast in operative position and constituting a lock against the foldable action thereof, and means for locking said brace againstitsfoldable actions 7 5. A carriage operative'upon a railroad rail, comprising a foot platform constituting a rest and support for the foot of the operator, rollers sustainingsaid'foot platform over a railroad rail and operative in a guide movement thereon, fan upright mast or framework extending from said'foot platform'and affording a hand-hold forthe operator, and a brake mechanism operative upon one. of said rollers.

6. A carriage operative-upon a railroad rail, comprising afoot platform constituting erator, rollers sustaining said foot platform over a railroad rail and operative in a guide movement thereon, a foldable-upright mast or framework extending from-said foot plat- .fqrm'and affording-a hand-hold r t e operator, and a brake mechanism bearing With relation to one of said rollers and extending to and operative from said upright mast f and foldable therewith.

8. A carriage operative upon a railroad rail, comprising a foot platform constituting a rest and support for thefoot of the o f erator, rollers sustaining said foot platform over a rallroad rail and operative 1n a guide oregoing specification.

FREDERICK A. W. DAVIS.

an upright mast or 10 testimony whereof I have signed the 15 

